Live 4 The LORD

Cooperation is an assent to God’s Action in me {FIAT}  not a work

does cooperation with Grace mean assenting to Gods action in me, like my fiat? a complete entrustment of myself to God, a "full submission of intellect and will," and perfect openness to the Holy Spirit's action

Yes, cooperation with grace involves assenting to God's action, and Mary's fiat at the Annunciation serves as a perfect example of this 1 2.

Understanding Cooperation with Grace

The Catholic Church teaches that while divine grace is a gratuitous gift that cannot be merited by human effort, human beings are called to cooperate with it 3 4. This cooperation is not about earning grace, but rather about freely accepting and responding to God's gift 5 4. The capacity to receive grace depends on one's openness and commitment to God 1.

This cooperation means that when God touches the human heart through the Holy Spirit's illumination, a person is not entirely passive. While one cannot move towards justification without God's grace, one can choose to reject that inspiration 6. Therefore, cooperation involves a new capacity to adhere to the divine will, which is itself a gift 6.

Mary's Fiat as the Exemplar of Cooperation

Mary's fiat—"Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word" (Lk 1:38)—is presented as the perfect model of cooperation with God's grace 1 7.

• Free Acceptance and Obedience of Faith: Mary's response at the Annunciation demonstrates a complete entrustment of herself to God, a "full submission of intellect and will," and perfect openness to the Holy Spirit's action 8. She freely consented to the Incarnation, thereby collaborating with her Son's entire work of salvation 9. Her "yes" made possible the divine plan for the salvation of the world 10.

• Humility and Dedication: Mary's statement, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord," signifies her profound awareness of being a creature of God and her willingness to serve the divine mystery 11 12. This humility of faith and complete submission allowed God to do "great things" for her 12 13.

• Active Involvement: Mary's question, "How can this come about?" (Lk 1:34), before her fiat, indicates her readiness to say yes despite uncertainties, showing that her assent was a conscious and personal involvement 14. She conceived Christ in her mind through faith before conceiving Him in her womb 8.

The Role of Faith, Hope, and Charity

Cooperation with grace is intrinsically linked to faith, hope, and charity. While faith is essential, it is through charity that faith becomes living and effective, enabling growth in the life of grace 15 16 5. The Council of Trent emphasizes that justification involves the infusion of faith, hope, and charity, and that faith without works is "dead and profitless" 16. This means that a sincere conversion of heart, effected by charity and contrition, is necessary for justification 15.

Conclusion

In summary, cooperation with grace is indeed about assenting to God's action within you, much like Mary's fiat. It is a free and active response to God's gratuitous gift, involving a personal commitment and openness to the Holy Spirit, allowing divine grace to work and grow within you, leading to spiritual transformation and an increase in justice through faith, hope, and charity 1 17 18 5.